India and Canada expel each other’s diplomats amid rising tensions

In response to the expulsion of six Indian diplomats from Canada, India’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it would expel six Canadian diplomats from India. The ministry stated that the Canadian diplomats have until next Saturday to leave the country.

This decision came after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats earlier in the day. A senior Canadian official told the Associated Press that the expulsion followed evidence linking the Indian government to violent criminal activities in Canada, including the expulsion of the Indian ambassador.

Previously, India’s Foreign Ministry had announced that its ambassador and diplomats would be withdrawn from Canada.

Relations between the two countries worsened after the Canadian government, in September 2023, claimed it had credible evidence of Indian agents being involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist of Indian origin in Canada, requesting cooperation from India in the investigation.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist advocating for an independent Sikh state, was assassinated on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. The Indian government had labeled him a “terrorist” and leader of an armed Sikh separatist group.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canadian intelligence believes Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing, who was also a Canadian citizen.

India rejected these allegations, stating that Canada had not provided evidence to support its claims.

On Monday, India reiterated its concerns over the safety of its diplomats in Canada, expressing a lack of confidence in the Canadian government’s ability to ensure their security.

The Indian Foreign Ministry summoned the Canadian chargé d’affaires to convey that the “unfounded targeting” of Indian diplomats and officials in Canada was “completely unacceptable.”

The ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have escalated significantly, with both countries expelling diplomats in retaliation. As accusations of involvement in violence and political motivations emerge, the future of bilateral relations remains uncertain.

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